After Dark (Prompts)

Be With You - 7

The day at the cemetery marked a change for them both. Neither denied their friendship anymore. 

Ha Chae Yoon had a fondness for the Detective already because, although aloof, he acted like a gentleman to her and he looked after her well-being, whether she ate or how she was going home. He would even hand her a bottle of water just because he felt she needed to keep hydrated.

Im Cheol-Ryung for his part still tried to pretend that he didn't find the Inspector funny or charming, but it was getting more difficult after the understanding and recognition of his loved ones that she showed. A number of times, he would give her a half smile at some quirky comment she made, she would pull out her phone camera again and try to capture it. He would end up scowling which is the picture she would take, then she would laugh at it and it would be impossible for him not to join her mirth.

But, one day after visiting the prison to talk to one of the suspects, Im Cheol-Ryung returned to office in a cantankerous mood.

"What's wrong with you?" Kang Jin-tae asked. 

"Nothing," Im Cheol-Ryung replied.

"Well, you are perpetually in a bad mood so I shouldn't be surprised. I just thought you were over that phase," Kang Jin-tae returned.

Im Cheol-Ryung said, "Well, you're wrong. I don't smile." 

Kang Jin-tae was taken aback but said nothing. Like he said, he was used to Im Cheol-Ryung and his resting b*tch face.

With the mood he was in, Kang Jin-tae thought Im Cheol-Ryung wouldn't be joining the group going out for drinks that night. "Who's going?" Cheol-Ryung asked

Lee Da-bin, a couple of guys from the negotiations team, a couple of cops who were off-duty and then, "Inspector Ha will follow. She's just working on something but if she finishes early she'll catch up."

With that, Im Cheol-Ryung said, "I'll go but won't stay long."

At the bar, Im Cheol-Ryung just ordered a soda and barely engaged in conversation with the rest of group. He kept an eye on the door for any sign of Ha Chae Yoon. 

5 minutes, tops. If she's not here, I'm leaving, he thought. When five minutes passed and she wasn't there yet, he thought, Okay, another 5... maybe 10... or 15.

He wondered if she was still working on papers for that man.

Earlier that day, he didn't mean to eavesdrop on something that was not his business but he had been in the prison for another matter and as he was leaving, he saw Ha Chae Yoon at one of the desks speaking to one of the prisoners. Im Cheol-Ryung had seen his face on the papers.

Min Tae Gu.

Im Cheol-Ryung was unable to hear the entire exchange but the part he caught was the man saying, "Thank you for saving my life, Inspector. No one has shown me that kindness in a very long while."

"I believe there is good in you. Your sister saw it, too," Ha Chae Yoon said.

"Do you think we could still have that drink when I get out?" Min Tae Gu asked.

"Sure. I would like that," she replied. Turning to look at her face, Im Cheol-Ryung knew she was sincere when she said that. Ha Chae Yoon looked at Min Tae Gu with fondness and Im Cheol-Ryung knew she truly cared about the man's well-being. 

He admired her for that. But he didn't have to like it. Why? Just because. There were reasons he didn't want to admit to himself yet.

Im Cheol-Ryung scowled at the guard. Why was he taking so long to let me out?!